Mind Sculpture - Unleashing Your Brain's Potential

I once saw Ian Robertson, the author of Mind Sculpture, speak at
a lecture in London. Although he was generally entertaining and
engaging, what stood out was his premise that the brain is comparable
to a muscle that can be developed throughout your life.

During the lecture, Robertson
described the brain as a ‘trembling web’ of ever-changing
inter-connections, shaped by your experiences.

In this optimistic and encouraging book he describes how education
molds your brain, stimulating new connections between cells. That
although genetics play their part, education and effort protect
against the ravages of time, disease and injury.

Brainpower is also boosted by physical exercise, he says, by stimulating
the secretion of ‘neurotrophins’, substances which encourage
sprouting between brain cells. He tells us why love, affection and
positive interactions with others also help our brains work well.

Happily for those of us who are getting on a bit, he also dispels
myths about ageing and the brain:

“Another mental arena where age beats youth is absentmindedness
and carelessness. People in their seventies are less likely to forget
to do things they set out to do than younger people. So, for instance,
they are less likely to forget an appointment or to make a phone
call. They also take more care when they are performing tasks and
make fewer mistakes than younger people.”

One reason why older peoples’ brains function more efficiently
in some ways is because there brains have literally had more practice
over the years. Repetition of an action or thought pattern strengthens
synaptic connection and forges new ‘pathways’ in the
brain.

“Use it or lose it!” says Robertson - your brain is
your investment, so look after it. With practical instruction on
how to do this, this book is almost as engaging, informative and
fascinating as the man himself.

Review by Chris Roberts

It is well known that repetitive actions or tasks become “automatic”
after a while. Some skills, like walking or chewing, we take for
granted; others, like touch-typing, must be learned. When a task
is executed automatically, it is said to be done “subconsciously.”

Anything we do without conscious thought is done subconsciously.
The average person performs many subconscious actions in the course
of his or her daily routine (an amazingly large number, if one really
thinks about it). Yet few people realize how the brain handles these
subconscious actions.

The first few chapters of “Mind Sculpture” explain how
the brain physically reconfigures itself (a process called Hebbian
Learning) in response to repetitive actions or stimuli. Our brains
are not “hard wired” from birth. New connections between
previously unconnected brain cells are formed each time we learn
a new skill or form a new association. As we learn new skills, we
really are physically “sculpting” our minds.

Hebbian learning occurs because “cells that fire together,
wire together.” Take the example of a billboard advertisement
which shows a particular automobile alongside a beautiful woman.
Two sets of brain cells will fire in response: the brain cells that
control sexual arousal and the brain cells that recognize the auto.
After repeatedly viewing the billboard, these two unrelated sets
of brain cells become physically wired together simply because they
have fired together again and again. Eventually, seeing the auto
by itself will cause the arousal brain cells to fire and the prospective
buyer to feel “turned on.”

The ramifications of the brain’s ability to re-wire itself
are the subject of the rest of the book. How the brain can repair
itself after suffering damage is explained in detail, as well as
the brain’s response to loss of limb or sight, etc.. Learning
and emotional trauma are also examined.

The author includes real life examples of people who have recovered
from injury or trauma. He also points out that many victims could
probably realize a fuller recovery if only more emphasis were placed
on using the brain’s untapped potential: our mind’s
ability to sculpt itself.

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